--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No matter what message you are about to…" description: "\"No matter what message you are about to deliver somewhere, whether it is holding out a hand of friendship, or making clear that you disapprove of somet..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/356/madeleine-albright-1360_clear_no-matter-what-message-you-are-about-to_823843.jpg" --- # No matter what message you are about to deliver somewhere… ![“No matter what message you are about to deliver somewhere, whether it is holding out a hand of friendship, or making clear that you disapprove of something, is the fact that the person sitting across the table is a human being, so the goal is to always establish common ground.” quote by Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/356/madeleine-albright-1360_clear_no-matter-what-message-you-are-about-to_823843.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/356/madeleine-albright-1360_clear_no-matter-what-message-you-are-about-to_823843.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/356/madeleine-albright-1360_clear_no-matter-what-message-you-are-about-to_823843.jpg) > “No matter what message you are about to deliver somewhere, whether it is holding out a hand of friendship, or making clear that you disapprove of something, is the fact that the person sitting across the table is a human being, so the goal is to always establish common ground.” [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emphasizes that regardless of message, recognizing shared humanity is essential for common ground. **In simple terms:** Find common humanity before delivering any message. Key Takeaway Prioritize empathy to build agreement. Themes diplomacy empathy communication Mood empathetic strategic Type political inspirational When to use this quote - negotiations - conflict resolution - team meetings - public speaking Key Concepts political science human rights Questions to Reflect On - How can you identify shared values quickly? - What if common ground seems impossible? A Different Perspective May oversimplify deep ideological divides. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Common ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-ground/) [Establish Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/establish-common-495602/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Friendship Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship-making-495600/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Hand Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand-friendship-495599/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-goal-495601/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Messages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messages/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Sitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Tables](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tables/) ## Related quotes > [I learned that a real friendship is not about what you can get, but what you can give. Real friendship is about making sacrifices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/i-learned-that-a-real-friendship-is-not-about-what-you-can-get-but/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [I compete only with myself, and I try to become a better human being. This is my goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-chinmoy/i-compete-only-with-myself-and-i-try-to-become-a-better-human-being/) [Sri Chinmoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-chinmoy/) > [Leaders must establish common purpose and build trust within an organization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-a-mcchrystal/leaders-must-establish-common-purpose-and-build-trust-within-an/) [Stanley A. McChrystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-a-mcchrystal/) > [We’re all gifted with the opportunity to succeed. But you get further if you extend the hand of friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-little/we-re-all-gifted-with-the-opportunity-to-succeed-but-you-get-further/) [Jimmy Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-little/) > [Getting hand full of FRIENDSHIP BANDS doesn't mean they are all true friends Just get a band to hearts its enough to get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ejaz-d-roxtar/getting-hand-full-of-friendship-bands-doesn-t-mean-they-are-all-true/) [Ejaz D RoxTar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ejaz-d-roxtar/) > [You cannot manage everything alone, you must hold your hand out in friendship, to rejoin the world in times of need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-cannot-manage-everything-alone-you-must-hold-your-hand-out-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Keep extending hand for friendship. Those alive will grip yours with theirs, while the morally dead will inflate; rubbing their own palms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aniruddha-sastikar/keep-extending-hand-for-friendship-those-alive-will-grip-yours-with/) [Aniruddha Sastikar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aniruddha-sastikar/) > [There is no Color to the Hand of Friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-color-to-the-hand-of-friendship/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You've got to reach a hand of friendship across the aisle and across philosophies in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/you-ve-got-to-reach-a-hand-of-friendship-across-the-aisle-and-across/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [There is no colour to the hand of friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/udechukwu-d0navan/there-is-no-colour-to-the-hand-of-friendship/) [Udechukwu D0navan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/udechukwu-d0navan/) > [We need to be kinder with one another, more gentle and forgiving. We need to be slower to anger and more prompt to help.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-w-hunter/we-need-to-be-kinder-with-one-another-more-gentle-and-forgiving-we/) [Howard W. Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-w-hunter/) > [Whenever people reach out the hand of friendship towards me, I am not going to refuse that hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-mcguinness/whenever-people-reach-out-the-hand-of-friendship-towards-me-i-am-not/) [Martin McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-mcguinness/) > [I'm not going to throw away the hand of friendship to suit 100 Trotskyites in Glasgow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-connolly/i-m-not-going-to-throw-away-the-hand-of-friendship-to-suit-100/) [Billy Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-connolly/) > [We have got to extend the hand of friendship, we have got to take the peacelines down brick by brick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ervine/we-have-got-to-extend-the-hand-of-friendship-we-have-got-to-take-the/) [David Ervine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ervine/) > [We must reach out our hand in friendship and dignity both to those who would befriend us and those who would be our enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-ashe/we-must-reach-out-our-hand-in-friendship-and-dignity-both-to-those/) [Arthur Ashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-ashe/) ## More by Madeleine Albright > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [No matter how hard we might wish, we will not be able to transform China's behavior overnight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/no-matter-how-hard-we-might-wish-we-will-not-be-able-to-transform/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [There are a lot of similar aspects in all the religions. The question is which side of it you hold up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/there-are-a-lot-of-similar-aspects-in-all-the-religions-the-question/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Whatever the job you are asked to do at whatever level, do a good job because your reputation is your resume.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/whatever-the-job-you-are-asked-to-do-at-whatever-level-do-a-good-job/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [I am often asked if, when I was secretary, I had problems with foreign men. 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I have a saying: There is a special place in hell for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-also-think-it-is-important-for-women-to-help-one-another-i-have-a/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [The capability of negotiating... is something that means you not only have to understand fully what you believe and what your national interests are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/the-capability-of-negotiating-is-something-that-means-you-not-only/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [I know that war is very cruel and that life is harder when you aren't able to live in the place you called home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-know-that-war-is-very-cruel-and-that-life-is-harder-when-you-aren-t/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Women are more than 50% of almost every country in the world. 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On the whole, we need to understand the more moderate Muslims before they become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/what-you-have-to-be-concerned-about-are-the-extremists-on-the-whole/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) [Explore all 248 Madeleine Albright quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) ## More Clear quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. 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I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/) [Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/) > [I try to listen to all music with an open head, a clear head, try not to say just because I don't know it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghostface-killah/i-try-to-listen-to-all-music-with-an-open-head-a-clear-head-try-not/) [Ghostface Killah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghostface-killah/) > [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/) [Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/) > [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. 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